Good morning! Today is Wednesday, September 30, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Hi readers, it’s Lindsey here. We’re continuing our “Helene: Road to Recovery” series today with a piece from managing editor Ashley Fahey, looking into forestation and tree removal efforts across Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene uprooted and destroyed trees across the region through flooding, landslides and strong winds. She answers some interesting questions about the challenges of restoring forests after a major weather event, from heightened wildfire risks and invasive species to the financial hurdles facing private landowners.
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Editor’s note: Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, recovery is still unfolding across the region. In “Helene: Road to Recovery,” a five-part series, The Charlotte Ledger examines where that recovery stands today — from rebuilding communities, roads and forests to the storm’s lasting effects on healthcare and wildlife — and the work that remains. So far, we’ve taken a look at:
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WNC forest recovery funds are finally flowing. But landowners say the process for getting them are hard to navigate, forcing tough decisions.
Debris from fallen trees in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene blocked access on the Newberry Creek Road Bridge on the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. (Photo courtesy of Kristian Jackson)
by Ashley Fahey
Chris Allen is facing a tough choice: Sell his 177 acres of forestland atop Elk Mountain or spend up to $1M clearing it without a guarantee of reimbursement.
Allen, who bought the land in 2017 to save it from getting cleared by a developer, has already spent nearly $100,000 in labor and equipment to clear the most immediate hazards after Hurricane Helene blew down trees on much of his land. He’s frustrated by how difficult it’s been to get even basic information about what he needs to be eligible for reimbursement for costs he’s fronting.
“I don’t think I can invest the money that the property needs to not cause risk and possible harm to the neighbors above it and everything else,” Allen said. “I want to steward this forest back to health. But there’s no way for me to really take care of this land properly in the state that it’s in.”
Allen is one of countless landowners in Western North Carolina still trying to pick up the pieces — literally — left behind two years after Helene damaged 822,000 acres of North Carolina forestland in its destructive path.
CMS INVESTIGATION NOTES
A few facts and tidbits on the investigation into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ finances, which seems to center on how the school board or school board members hired law firms and contractors and whether those expenditures were authorized.
Full access to The Ledger’s CMS Investigation Notes is available only to paying subscribers. Join us today!
➡️ You can read more CMS investigation notes online at The Charlotte Ledger’s dedicated webpage
Articles include:
WAYS OF LIFE
Ways of Life is our obituaries newsletter honoring friends, neighbors and family members who made an impact on Charlotte through the ways they lived their lives.
Bill Jackson at The Soda Shop with one of his favorite people, owner Misty Utech. (Photo contributed by family and friends)
Remembering Bill Jackson
Bill Jackson served presidents and pursued the cause of global peace, but it was Davidson that became his “holy grail,” as his daughter put it. There he invested in relationships and worked to make a good place even better.
☠ Bone to be wild: NoDa gets spooky for Halloween
Tomorrow is Oct. 1, and NoDa residents are gearing up for the neighborhood’s annual NoDaWeen house decorating contest. Voting goes live on Oct. 26 and the winner will be announced on Halloween, with a $200 cash prize. The house above, on Yancey Street, chose an “OrthoScarolina” theme, complete with skeleton orthopedic patients with bone and joint problems. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, take a drive around… if you dare! (Photo: Lindsey Banks/The Charlotte Ledger)
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: “Cirque Kalabante: ‘Afrique en Cirque,’” 7:30-9 p.m., at Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Ave. The newest show from Cirque Kalabanté, “Afrique en Cirque,” is a dramaturgy inspired by everyday life in Guinea, always grounded in dynamic and collective elements. True to form, the warm and inviting world of Kalabanté Productions will take spectators on an unforgettable journey. $40-$70/ticket.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3: “Charlotte Kids Fest,” 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Boardwalk at University City, 8931 JM Keynes Dr. Presented by University City Partners and Walmart, this beloved annual celebration turns a single day in University City into a creative extravaganza. This year’s event is packed with new live performances, hands-on activities and interactive experiences designed to spark innovation and curiosity in kids of all ages. Free.
OCTOBER 10: “Hike the SouthPark Loop,” 9-11:30 a.m., at Jesse Brown’s Outdoors - SouthPark, 4732 Sharon Rd., Suite 2M. Hike Guide Drew Thrasher leads this popular 3-mile walk on the SouthPark Loop. Beyond the bustling business, shopping and entertainment of SouthPark, there is also a rich history that can be explored through an “urban hike” on the Loop. See where the evangelist Billy Graham and news broadcaster Charles Kuralt’s school building existed, visit a preserved African-American cemetery and see where the businesses of the past meet present day titans of industry. Free.
OCTOBER 10: “Bronco Filson Road Tour,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Jesse Brown’s Outdoors - SouthPark, 4732 Sharon Rd., Suite 2M. The road is calling — and the Filson Bronco is rolling into Charlotte! Come check out the Bronco Filson Road Tour, see the rig up close and get a taste of the Filson spirit that’s built for the road, the trail and wherever the adventure takes you. Whether you’re a Bronco fan, a Filson fan or just looking for an excuse to get outside, come hang with us! Stop by. Check it out. Talk some adventure. Free.
In brief
Charlotte adopts 10 p.m. teen curfew: On Monday, Charlotte City Council approved a pilot program requiring everyone under 18 to be out of public spaces from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Nov. 1. Exceptions still apply for situations such as traveling to work, running an errand for a parent, attending supervised activities or being accompanied by an authorized adult. (Observer)
Woman arrested over gun used in 2024 officer killings: Federal agents arrested Natasha Renee Gibbs in Texas, accusing her of illegally buying the firearm later used by Terry Clark Hughes Jr. in the east Charlotte shooting that killed four law enforcement officers. Authorities say Hughes was a convicted felon barred from possessing a gun. (WFAE)
Mooresville mayor steps down amid lingering pants controversy: Chris Carney will leave office after nearly three years as mayor, saying his resignation is unrelated to controversy over surveillance video reportedly showing him without pants at town hall. Mayor pro tem Eddie Dingler will fill the role until commissioners appoint someone to complete Carney’s term. (Observer)
CATS rolls out first referendum-funded upgrades: Beginning Oct. 5, the Charlotte Area Transit System will increase service on several bus routes, add new midday trips and launch a West Charlotte microtransit zone as part of its 2055 Transit System Plan. Additional changes include more frequent Airport Sprinter and Central Avenue service, a new North Mecklenburg connector and expanded microtransit hours.
Blue Ridge Parkway completes $100M overhaul: A 75-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina has reopened after a multiyear rehabilitation project funded through the Great American Outdoors Act. Work included repaving, drainage repairs, guardrails, overlooks and signage, with completion timed ahead of peak fall leaf season. (WSOC)